Catoptric flash-light.



L. E. COTE.

CATOPTRIG FLASH LIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24, 1911.

Patented June 30, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

lnvenlor {6 5i 2% 194M 4 Wifnesses I L. E. COTE.

GATOPTRIO FLASH LIGHT. APPLICATION FILED AUG.Z4, 1911. Llmbfi fio Patented June 30, 1914.

2 SHEBTSSHEBT 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS EUCLIDE com, or OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA.

CATOPTRIC FLASH-LIGHT.

Application filed August 24, 1911.

present specification, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings that form part of the same.

The invention consists essentially of the novel arrau gement and construction of parts, whereby intersecting beams of light are projected from reflector elements arranged about a common source of light.

The objects of the invention are to devise a catoptric flash light of simple construction,

which shall utilize the one source of lightto throw several distinctive beams of full intensity, and thereby minimize the cost of manufacture for such lights, as also the cost of maintenance and operation.

A further object of the invention is to so arrange the light that the rotation of the flashing elements therearound will be simple and of inexpensive design.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation, part sectional, View of the invention. Fig. 1 is a plan projection of the reflector, as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 is a perspective detail view of the reflector, as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective detail view of the reflector, shown in Fig. 1, with screens arranged therearound to effectually cover the source of light between the flashes. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of the arrangement of reflector, as shown in Fig. 1, w1th the screens attached thereto. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of a modified arrangement of the reflector elements to project a different combination of flash beams. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic plan view, showing a" further modification of the reflector elements to project a different arrangement of flash beams. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic plan view of the arrangement of reflectors, showing the manner in which an occulting light may be obtained from the one source. Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic vertical sectional view of the type of reflector preferably used for an occulting light, as shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic horizontal sectional Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June so, lam.

Serial No. 645,874.

view of the type of reflector preferably used for an occulting light, as shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a front elevation of a light, showing a modified arrangement of the screens, and the support therefor partially broken away. Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic plan view of an arrangement of reflectors for projecting four beams of light.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly Figs. 1, 1 and 2 thereof, 1, 2 and 3 are reflectors secured one next the other on the table 4.

5 is a central orifice through the table 4, and into which the tube 6 is secured, said tube at the lower end thereof turning freely in suitable hearings in the hollow base 7.

8 is a bevel gear secured to the tube 6 at the lower end thereof.

9 is a suitable clockwork, having the pinion 10 secured to a power shaft thereof, and intermeshing with the gear 8.

11 is a pipe connected to a suitable gas supply, and extending upwardly through the center of the hollow base 7 and the tube 6.

12 is a burner preferably of the incandescent bunsen type mounted on the top of-the pipe 11, the mantle of said burner being in the common focus of the reflectors 1, 2 and 3, whereby a number of distinct and direct beams of light are reflected as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4, that is, the reflector 1 throws the beam 1*, the reflector 2 the beam 2*, and the reflector 3 the beam 3. These beams are each of a full measure of intensity; that is, each beam is as intense as the beams which would be projected by individual lights with corresponding single reflectors, and as a consequence the reflectors must be arranged so that the different beams reflected therefrom intersect one another.

It is preferablmin order to clearly define the beams, to hide the light from all direc tions from which a reflected beam does not emanate, and this is accomplished by the screens 13, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. These screens are shown supported in the paths of the beams of light, and parallel therewith, and from the wire rings 14 secured to the front face of the reflector, though it must he understood that they may be supported from the table 4, or in any convenient manner.

distinct flashes occurring at set intervals of' time is given by the one light, which will make the signal of particular advantage in lighthouse work, wherein the reflector with the light, is inclosed in a large lantern, as customary with such lights to protect the same from the weather inclemencies.

in Fig. 5 the reflectors 15 and 16 are placed in the same position as the reflectors 1 and 3 hereinbefore described, and will throw the beams 15 and 16. A third re flector 17 is placed diametrically opposite the position in which the reflector 2 has been hereinbefore described, and throws the beam 17, as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. 'With this arrangement of the reflectors three flashes will be given at regular intervals by the rotation of the table.

In Fig. 6 a modification of the reflectors is shown to project two quick flashes and a third flash after a short interval of time, then after a longer interval, the two quick flashes are again projected. In this 1nodi fication the reflectors 18 and 19 correspond to the reflectors 1 and 3 in Fig. 4, but the reflector: 2 as shown in the said Fig. 4 is replaced by an unsymmetric portion of a iarabolic reflector 20, as shown by the cotted' lines in Fig. 6, whereby the reflectors 18 and 19 projecting the'beams 18 and 19 are the midportions of the parabolic reflectors, and have the dotted lines indicating the continuance thereof on each side, while the reflector 20, in order to project the diverted beam 20 has the reflecting surface entirely on one side of a vertical plane passingthrough the axis, and the dotted line, which would balance the parabolic curve on each side of the axis, is shown extended on one side only, the dotted lines in this figure being used to more clearly indicate the portion of the surfaces used, showing a few A ea arrangements of reflectors.

The hereinbefore described modifications, showing a few arrangements of reflectors will clearly indicate other arrangements which may be resorted to for projecting diffcrcnt combinations of flashes, the essential feature of the invention residing in the novel arrangement of reflectors of any type or' curvature to project intersecting beams or rays of light.

In Fig. 7 an occulting light is shown diagrammatically. In this figure the reflectors 21, 22 and 23 are spaced similar to the reflectors 15, 1G and 17 in Fig. 5, but instead of being parabolic in horizontal section, they are circular, whereby the rays of light are reflected directly back in vertical planes passing through the focus, and diverge,'as shown in Figs. 7 and 9. This type of reflector is peculiar to the plain occulting light, which does not project sharp flashes as in the previously. described types, but rather periodicall hides the light at predetermined intervals, and this is ordinarily effected by screens, but to secure the full intensity of the light, the reflectors are made parabolic in vertical section, as shown in Fig. 8, which projects all the rays from the focus in a horizontal direction, and eliminates the necessity of a lens for this pur-' pose, as would be necessary were ordinary screens used, the increased efliciency being obtained by reflecting the light, and having the various rays intersect in this particular case at points on a vertical line passing through the common focus of the reflectors.

In Fig. 4 the dotted lines A and B indicate direct rays from the burner 12, and show the same intercepted by the screens 13, whereby the light is entirely hid from all directions with the exception of the three beams 1 2 and 3, thereby clearly defining the signal flashes given as the table 4 rotates.

In Fig. 10 a modified arrangement of the screens is shown, as also the manner or supporting the same, wherein 21 is a cylindrical casing which may encircle the light outside the reflectors, suitable openings being cut therein, through which the beams of light from the reflectors may be projected. These openings will be protected by the cylindrical shaped screens 22 concentrically arranged and supported from the wires 24: extending diametrically across said opening. It will be readily seen that the surfaces of these screens are parallel with the beam of light which would be projected through the opening in which they are secured. Furthermore, it will be readily understood that these screens may be made square in cross section, and will eflectually meet the requirements in anticipating the rays of light which would extend To illustrate the arrangement of four,- -..the

reflectors 24 to 27 inclusive are shown in Fig. 11, projecting the beams 24 to 27 in; p

elusive. I

What I claim as my invention is l. A catoptric flash light, comprising a pluralitfi of parabolic reflectors including the apices thereof and having n common focus each reflector being limited on two sides by vertical planes passing through said focus and a source of light located at said, focus.

2, A catoptric flash light, comprising a source of light and a pluralitof parabolic reflectors having a common ocus, said reflectors projecting intersectingbeams of light and each reflector being limited on two sides by Vertical planes passing through the focus and said source of light.

3. A catoptric flash light, comprising a plurality of parabolic reflectors including the apices thereof and having a common focus and a source of light located at said focus, saidreflectors projecting intersecting beams of light and each reflector being limited on two sides/ by vertical planes passing through the focus.

4. A catoptric the chords of their horizontal sectors on a plane passing through the focus co-incide with the sides of a regular polygon having the common focus for center.

5. A catoptric flash light, comprising a plurality of reflectors having a common focus and a source of light localized at such focus said reflectors being so arranged that the chords of their horizontal sectors on a plane passing through the focus co-incide with the sides of a regular polygon having the common focus for center and the number of said reflectors being equal to half the number of sides of said olygon.

6. A catoptric flash ight, comprising a plurality of reflectors having a common foflash light, comprising a' plurality of reflectors having a common fo-' with thesides of a' regular polygon.

7. A catoptric flash light, comprising a plurality of reflectors having a common focus "each reflector being limited on two sides by vertical planes passing through the focus and so arranged that *the chords, of their sectors on any horizontal plane co-incide with the sides of a regular polygon and the number of said reflectors being equal to half the number of sides of said polygon. I

8. In a catoptric flash light, a plurality of parabolic reflectors having a common focus,

and a source of light located at said focus, each reflector being limited on 'two sides by vertical planes passing through the focus and the sum of thedihedral angles included between said limiting planes being equal to 180 degrees and all the reflectors .being ar-' ranged out of the path of the reflected beams and embracing all the available space between said beams 9. A catoptric flash light, comprising a fixed source of light, a lurality of reflectors including the apices tl iereof and having a common focus and having the outside edges thereof coinciding with the outside rays of reflected beams and means for revolving said reflectors around said light.

Signed at the city of Ottawa, Canada, this 27th day of July, 1911.

LOUIS-EUOLIDE corn. Witnesses:

V. BELANGER, K. F. MAoGIBBoN 

